Chronus Art Center (CAC) warmly welcomes Andrej Boleslavsky, the artist who has been awarded the third Research/Creation Fellowship (USD$10,000), who's residency program began May 15th. During the 3-month program, he will work closely with CAC to realize his project ZhuoMiCang.
ZhuoMiCang investigates new ludic forms of mixed reality media. By combining an ancient form of game with cutting edge technologies, the project explores different ways perception is distorted and desynchronized when a subject is immersed in a dynamic that merges the physical with the digital; all in one space. The audience is submitted to an experience which seamlessly dissolves the line between the existent and the non-existent within our field of perception. In addition to the strong conceptual quality and artistic potential that ZhuoMiCang demonstrates, the project also catalyzes the development of an opensource research platform for mixed reality and interactive audiovisual content generation, as well as the integration of this with realtime motion capture systems.
About the Work
ZhuoMiCang is an experimental mixed reality game for multiple players. The project playfully explores disparity of perception within the real space and a digital space. It is inspired by an old game known to many ancient cultures where a blindfolded player is trying to find its opponents. When successful, the roles switch.
ZhuoMiCang, Andrej Boleslavsky
The player is blindfolded by the VRheadset displaying an abstract representaion of the surrounding would mixed with identical visual objects that are simulated or recorded. The goal of the player inside the VR is to identify which of the abstract objects actually belongs to a real person. The goal of the players outside of VR is to stay unnoticed for as long as possible.
ZhuoMiCang, Andrej Boleslavsky
The project investigates in depth the relationship of the real space and virtual space. What do they have in common? How are they connected and where do they disconnect? How does digital technology enhance or suppress our senses? The player in VR could be overloaded by stimuli at one point of the game, in another he or she can gain night vision, when the light in the real space gets turned off, the players outside of VR find himself in darkness unable to see, while the player in VR may not even notice the difference as the motion capture technology works outside of human visible spectrum with its own light sources.
Artist's Bio
Andrej Boleslavsky
Andrej Boleslavský is an independent artist purposing technology in the fields of new media art, interactive design, physical computing and 3D printing. His work also maintains a strong fascination with the entanglement of nature and technology. He has developed many interactive installations and lectured on open source software, programming platforms VVVV and Arduino. He lately exhibited at Editions of Light Vol.II in Prague, Poolloop festival in Zürich, Signal festival in Prague, Designblok’14 in Prague, 3D print show in New York and WRO festival in Wroclaw. In addition to his work he is actively involved in technological solutions for other Czech and foreign artists, for instance in installation for Expo Milano 2015.
About <CAC_LAB>
<CAC_LAB> is a space dedicated to the inquiry of present-day matters regarding art, design, science, technology and their impact on global contemporary culture and society. Through artistic practice, technological tools and research methodology, we enable creative processes that result in works of art of high production and academic value. <CAC_LAB> is a space of flux which encourages artistic practice as a generator of new knowledge, a territory where art and science converge into a contemporary and experimental field of academic research; free from main stream cultural thought, technological stress and economical diversions.
More info at: http://lab.chronusartcenter.org
Fellowship Support
This Fellowship is a chance for international artists and researchers to engage and learn from the art, technological and entrepreneurial communities of Shanghai. The selected Fellow will be offered a total amount of USD$10,000 for a 3 month deep-immersion period; including artist fees, living expenses, materials and exhibition production. In addition our lab facilities and tools are available for the fellow's needs; these include but are not limited to: Laser-cutter, bandsaw, sander-belt, press drills, all sorts of hand tools, a variety of electronic components, arduinos, raspberryPis, an oculus rift DK2 headset, Surface Mount Infrared soldering, soldering irons and other prototyping tools.
For international Fellows, CAC is happy to provide necessary paperwork and advice to help expedite the process of securing his/her visa, travel and accommodation in Shanghai whereas all the expenses will be covered within the amount of the fellowship.
During the 3-month program, CAC will work closely with the selected Fellow to see his/her project realized and offer program support in developing work for performances, events, seminars, exhibitions, or other public and educational programming during the term of the Fellowship. CAC will also facilitate joint presentations alongside community partners, host conversations with the artists and display works in progress; revealing the creative process as it happens.
